Master ratchet with quick action dual drive

ABSTRACT

A wrench having both a ratchet drive and a higher speed gear drive in which changes from ratchet to gear drive and vice versa can be quickly and easily affected.

1111 3,733,936 1 1 May 22,1973

United States Patent 1191 Flynn S T. N E M M II P C m H c T m A m w m m H N U M H K C I U Q H T ME mm &D U D R m TI T C MA w.

3/1955 Marvin..........-. 7/1892 Brend1inger....

[76] lnventor: Wilford Flynn, R. R. 6, Bedford,

Ind. 47421 2,703,030 478,680 1,033 358 7/1912 Turner 22 Filed: June 18,1971

3,265:17l 8/1966 Kilness 807,637 12/1905 Pipkin 2,891,434 6/1959 Lozensky 2,594,669

21 App]. No.: 154,513

Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. AttarneyWoodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton T C A R T s B A 1 7 5 [58] Field of A wrench having both a ratchet drive and a higher speed gear drive in which changes from ratchet to gear drive and vice versa can be quickly and easily affected.

1 Claim, 13 Drawing Figures MASTER RATCHET WITH QUICK ACTION DUAL DRIVE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present invention is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 778,723 filed Nov. 25, 1968 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a wrench, and more particularly to a wrench having both a ratchet drive and a higher speed gear drive.

2. Description of the Prior Art Ratchet wrenches have been known for a long time. Wrenches combining a ratchet operation and a gear drive mechanism are also known. Examples may be found in U. S. Pat. Nos: 1,199,823 issued to Sadtler; 2,594,669 issued to Marshall; 2,703,030 issued to Marvin; 2,891,434 issued to Lozensky; Italian Pat. No. 500,185 issued to Chicco; and, French Pat. No. 1,029,033 issued to Societe Anonyme des Forges Stephanoises. The devices disclosed in the prior art were often rather complex and cumbersome in both construction and operation. Devices such as the folding crank shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,703,030 were sometimes necessary in order to operate the gear drive. And the prior art did not show the features and combinations of features which result in the structurally simple and useful wrench of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of this invention is a wrench having a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion is integral with said handle portion, a rotatable hand grip adjacent the lower end of said handle portion, a rotatable shaft connected with said hand grip and extending interiorly through said handle portion, a first bevel gear attached to the upper end of said shaft, a second bevel gear engaging said first bevel gear at all times, a shank having one end attached to said second bevel gear and its other end adapted to receive a socket member, said shank being supported by and rotatable in bearings in said head portion, said shank having rotational force applied through said first and second bevel gears by rotation of said rotatable shaft and by rotation of said handle portion, a gear wheel within said head portion, a locking member pivotably secured within a curved area within said head portion, said locking member being of semi-circular outline and having spaced apart cavities and having teeth extending from its upper surface engageable with said gear wheel, a pin having an end adapted to slidably contact said locking member, a spring biasing said end of said pin into contact with said locking member, a pivot pin fitting into said locking member in such a manner so that said locking member may rotate only when said pivot pin rotates, and a control lever external of said head por- Thus where a nut has been loosened to the extent that it will turn rather freely, there is generally insufficient pressure for proper operation of the ratchet. In that instance, the fingers can do a better and faster job in the continued loosening and removal. An even faster job can be performed by using a gear driven socket wrench. The latter type of operation becomes a virtual necessity when the nut is in a relatively inaccessible place, as is all too common in automotive engines, aircraft engines, and countless other places.

A wrench combining a ratchet drive and a higher speed gear drive is advantageous as to time, effort and convenience in nut tightening and loosening operations. It is particularly advantageous when working in places where access is limited. By providing an extension which may be attached to the hand grip of the wrench, the wrench, can be used in areas located a considerable distance from the operator. By providing for quick and easy changes from ratchet drive to the higher speed gear drive, and vice versa, further operational advantages and convenience are obtained. A wrench according to this invention can be produced for a relatively low cost, is durable and easily serviceable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and advantages of this invention will be clear from the description of the preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view partly in section of a wrench in accordance with the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the wrench shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view at line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the under surface of the locking member.

FIG. 5 is a view partly in section of a wrench in accordance with the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a knob co'nnectable to the wrench of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the wrench of FIG. 5 viewed in the direction of arrow 6.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the top portion of the device of FIG. 6 with the outer plate removed.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the wrench looking in the direction of arrows 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the locking member 127 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the member of FIG. 10 hav' ing ball end 133 and pin 15 inserted therein.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of the top portion of the wrench of FIG. 5 looking generally in the direction of arrows 12-12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first embodiment of the wrench is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 and will now be described. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the wrench includes a head portion 11 and a handle portion 12. A rotatable hand grip 13 is provided adjacent to the lower end of handle portion 12. Handle portion 12 is of tubular shape and has a knurled portion adapted to be held by the operator. A rotatable shaft 14 is connected with hand grip 13 and extends through the interior of handle portion 12. A bevel gear 15 is attached to the upper end of shaft 14.

Another bevel gear 16 is attached to a shank 17 and is positioned so as to engage bevel gear at all times. As illustrated, the axes of gears 15 and 16 are approximately perpendicular to one another. Shank 17 is supported by and rotatable in bearing 18 within head portion 11 and a bearing formed by cover plate 19. The other end of shank 17 protrudes beyond cover plate 19 and exteriorly of head portion 11. The end portion 20 is adapted to receive a socket member of any well known type as illustrated at 21. A spring pressed ball 22 on the end portion 20 of shank 17 may be used to releasably hold socket member 21. A locking ring 23 retains cover plate 19 in head portion 11.

Within head portion 11, a gear wheel 25, having teeth 26 around its periphery, is attached to and surrounds shank 17. A locking member 27 of semicircular outline is pivotably secured within head 11. Locking member 27 has jagged teeth 28 extending from its upper surface. Teeth 28 are engageable with teeth 26 of gear wheel 25. The curved under surface of locking member 27 is provided with two spaced apart channels 30 and 31. Channels 30 and 31 are of the same shape and dimensions. The channels 30 and 31 are deepest away from the center 29 of the under surface and taper upwardly to the level of under surface adjacent to its center 29. Flanges on the under surface of locking member 27 are formed by channels 30 and 31.

A stabilizing pin 32 having a rounded or ball end 33 is inserted into head portion 11 through an opening 34 in the lower portion thereof. Pin 32 is provided with a shoulder 35 at its lower end. A flexible coil spring 36 biases the ball end 33 of pin 32 into contact with the curved under surface and channels 30 and 31 of lock member 27. Pin 32 and spring 36 are retained and held intact by a cap screw 37 threaded into opening 34 from the external side of head 11. Cap screw 37 may be removed in order to apply a few drops of a lightweight lubricant when desired. Channels 30 and 31 are slightly wider than ball end 33, thus permitting ball end 33 to travel in channels 30 and 31 without undue friction.

The flanges along the curved under surface of locking member 27 are adjacent to and movable within a curved area 38 within head portion 11. The ball end 33 of pin 32, by virtue of spring 36, at all times rides against either the center 29 of under surface or in channel 30 or 31 therein. Ball end 33 and locking member 27 thus provide for a cam action. Pressure between pin 32 and locking member 27 is at the center of ball end 33. Since spring 36 controls the ratchet action, it should be sufficiently strong to hold lock member 27 yet adequately sensitive for proper ratchet operation.

A positioning or control lever 40 external of head portion 11 is attached to a pivot pin which fits into and stabilizes locking member 27. A lug 46 on pivot pin 45 fits into a recess in locking member 27 to prevent pin 45 from turning freely in member 27. Pivot pin 45 has a circumferential groove therein, thus forming a shoulder adjacent to lever 40. Head member 11 and plate 19 have cutout portions therein which together form a circular cutout. The groove in pin 45 fits firmly therebetween so as to secure lever 40 and locking member 27 into proper position. When lever 40 is moved from one side to the other or the ratchet is reversed and locking member 27 is oscillated, teeth 28 on locking member 27 will be disengaged from teeth 26 of gear wheel 25, permitting teeth 28 to pass over teeth 26 as locking member 27 moves about its pivot. When locking member 27 is moved from one side to the other, ball end 33 and pin 32 are forced downwardly as ball end 33 rides in one of the channels. This downward motion of the pin continues until the center 29 of the under surface is contacting the center of ball end 33. As the center 29 of the under surface passes beyond the center of ball end 33, pin 32 and ball end 33 rise as spring 36 urges ball end 33 into the other channel. In this manner teeth 28 are disengaged from one side of teeth 26 and then re-engage the opposite side of teeth 26.

To apply a nut, the nut may be placed in socket member 21 which is attached to end portion 20 of shank 17. Hand grip 13 is then rotated. This rotational movement is transmitted to the nut through shaft 14, gears 15 and 16 and shank 17. When the nut is relatively tight, handle portion 12 can be oscillated back and forth to effect a normal ratchet operation. To remove a nut, the steps are reversed, the ratchet being used to loosen the nut until it turns relatively freely, and then the hand grip 13 being turned in order to take advantage of the gear mechanism until the job is completed.

At the lower end of handle portion 12, hand grip 13 is attached to shaft 14 and is provided with an opening 41 to receive an extension member or arm (not shown). A suitable indentation 42 may be provided to receive a spring pressed ball on the extension member.

A removable plug 43 fits over the end of hand grip l3 when the extension member is not in use. The extension member will permit the wrench to be used in areas located a considerable distance from the operator.

The second embodiment of the wrench is illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 12 and will now be described. Referring to FIGS. 5 through 12 there is shown a wrench having a top portion 111 being integrally forged with handle portion 112 into an integral piece. A shaft 114 extends through portion 112 and is rotatable therein having a first bevel gear 115 attached to one end and with the opposite end of the shaft having a socket receiving cavity 141 formed therein. Handle 112 is hollow for receiving shaft 114 with a cavity 108 at the top end defining a shoulder 107 for gear 115 to seat thereon. The bottom end of handle 1 12 has a cavity 106 for receiving end 105 of shaft 114 and defines a shoulder 104 for end 105 to seat thereon. End 105 is provided with an opening 141 to receive a finger knob 143 for rotating shaft 114. A suitable indentation 142 is provided in end 105 to receive a spring pressed ball on finger knob 143. Finger knob 143 allows the user to thread a nut on a bolt located in a small area which is large enough only to receive the nut and a nut holder mounted to end 120. The lower edge of end 105 is flush with the lowermost portion of handle 112. Knob 143 is attachable to end 105 and has a cavity for receiving an extension arm or the shank of a larger hand grip 163 for inserting therein.

Rotatably housed in top portion 1 1 1 is a second bevel gear 116 having a longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of gear 115. Gears 115 and 116 are in meshing engagement at all times and thus the life of the entire assembly is considerably increased as compared to the prior art devices which have gears which engage and disengage depending upon whether the nut to be loosened or tightened is free spinning. Gear 116 is integrally attached to shank 117 which extends rotatably through bearing 118 and has a gear wheel 125 with teeth 126 around its periphery integrally mounted thereon. Shank 117 extends through cover plate 119 which is received by portion 111 and secured therein by a snap ring 123 fitted into a groove in portion 111 extending outwardly and around plate 119. Shank 117 is supported by and rotatable in bearing 118 and plate 119. The end 120 of shank 117 protrudes beyond cover plate 119 and exteriorly of portion 111 to receive the well known socket head for fitting onto a nut or bolt head.

A locking member 127 is housed in portion 111 being identical to member 27 described in the first embodiment except for the positioning of ball 133 and receiving cavities 130 and 131. In addition control lever 140 has been moved and key 146 has been provided. Member 127 has teeth for engaging gear wheel 125 and operates identical to member 27 (FIG. 1). Pin 145 is rotatably received by portion 111 having a key 146 for fitting into a keyway 146' and preventing relative motion between pin 145 and member 127. The outer end 145' is of smaller diameter than pin 145 and is received by plate 119. Pin 132 having ball 133 integrally attached thereto is received by cavity 132' of portion 111. Spring 136 wound around pin 132 is received by cavity 136 of portion 111 and urges ball 133 into member 127. Pin 132 is generally perpendicular to shaft 114. A pair of ball receiving sockets 130 and 131 are provided in member 127 for receiving ball 133. Member 127 has a bottom surface 161 and a side surface 160 in contact with portion 111. Sockets 130 and 131 project into surfaces 160 and 161 tapering toward opposite surface 160 and having adjacent first ends flush therewith at line 129. The sockets taper into member 127 having their deepest penetration at their farthest point from line 129. That is, socket 130 is deepest at the most outward extreme with respect to socket 131 and vice versa. integrally connected to member 127 is a generally rectangular shaped lever 140 mounted adjacent line 129. The lever 140 projects out of portion 111 through slot 140. Portion 111 tapers inward around the periphery of slot 140 so as to allow the user to easily move lever 140 with his finger. Slot 140 is adjacent to hole 162. The outer surface of lever 140 is knurled. Hole 162 (FIG. 8) is provided above handle 112 in portion 111 opening into cavity 136'. During the assembly of the wrench, a small wire or tool may be inserted into hole 162 so as to depress ball 133. Hole 162 is generally parallel to handle portion 112. Member 127 and plate 119 may then be installed in portion 111 and ring 123 inserted in portion 111. The wire or tool projecting through hole 162 may then be removed allowing ball 133 to contact member 127. A cap screw is then threaded into hole 162. The cap screw may be removed at any time for insertion of an appropriate lubricant. It must be noted that the average stroke of a ratchet operation is less than 90 on the periphery; therefore, the nut being tightened or removed will revolve one-fourth inch or less. During operative or positive stroke when locking member is engaged with gear wheel the handle oscillates in one solid unit and therefore finger grip on end does not revolve. However, to ratchet back for a new bite the finger grip 13 will revolve accordingly one-fourth inch or less. To ratchet back does not require a firm grip on the handle; therefore, the very slight movement of finger grip does not interfere in any way as it will revolve in the palm of the hand or the operator can grip the handle above finger grip as sufficient space is provided.

FIG. 12 is a view of the top portion of the wrench of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of arrows 12-12. A cover having fiat portion 171 is received by a recess in top portion 111 and is secured thereto by fastening devices 172. Portion 171 of cover 170 is flush with the outer surface of the wrench. The operation of the wrench of FIGS. 5 through 12 is identical to that of the wrench of FIGS. 1 through 4.

The invention claimed is:

1. A wrench having a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion is integral with said handle portion, a rotatable hand grip adjacent the lower end of said handle portion, a rotatable shaft connected with said hand grip and having an upper end and a lower end and extending interiorly through said handle portion, a first bevel gear attached to said upper end of said shaft, a second bevel gear engaging said first bevel gear at all times, a shank having one end attached to said second bevel gear and its other end adapted to receive a socket member, said shank being supported by and rotatable in bearings in said head portion, said shank having rotational force applied through said first and second bevel gears by rotation of said rotatable shaft and by rotation of said handle portion, a gear wheel within said head portion, a locking member pivotably secured within a curved area within said head portion, said locking member being of semi-circular outline and having spaced apart cavities and having teeth extending from its upper surface engageable with said gear wheel, a stabilizing pin having an end adapted to slidably contact said locking member, a spring biasing said end of said pin into contact with said locking member, a pivot pin fitting into said locking member in such a manner so that said locking member may rotate only when said pivot pin rotates, and a control lever external of said head portion adapted to disengage said teeth from said gear wheel; and wherein:

said head portion and said handle portion are forged into an integral piece; and further comprising:

a gear cover fixedly mounted to said head portion enclosing said first bevel gear and said second bevel gear, said cover having an edge portion extending around said cover being flush with said head portion;

said locking member has a bottom surface and a side surface with said cavities projecting therethrough, said cavities have adjacent first ends flush with said bottom surface, said cavities taper into said locking member from said first ends each having a deepest penetration into said locking member at ends opposite said first ends;

said control lever is mounted to said side surface adjacent said first ends;

said stabilizing pin has a rod with a ball end;

said head portion has a first hole and a second hole connected longitudinally together with said rod positioned in said first hole and said spring positioned in said second hole, said rod being generally perpendicular to said rotatable shaft, said head portion has a tool hole projecting exteriorly from said second hole and arranged generally parallel to said handle portion, said head portion has a slot adjacent said tool hole with said lever being movable through said slot; and,

said handle portion has a cylindrical hole with a first end adjacent said head portion and an opposite second end, said cylindrical hole extending longitudinally through said handle portion and receives said rotatable shaft, said handle portion has a first cavity into which said first end of said cylindrical hole opens said first cavity forming a first shoulder perpendicular to said shaft with said first bevel gear positioned in said first cavity against said first shoulder;

said handle portion has a second cavity into which said second end of said cylindrical hole opens, said second cavity is cylindrical and is coaxial with said cylindrical hole forming a second shoulder perpendicular to said shaft, said shaft has a constant diameter from said upper end of said shaft to said lower end of said shaft and additionally comprising a plug integrally attached to said lower end of said shaft a plate fitted in said head portion with said shank andsaid pivot pin projecting therethrough; and, a snap ring fitting adjacent and exteriorly of said plate securing said plate to said head portion. =l 

1. A wrench having a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion is integral with said handle portion, a rotatable hand grip adjacent the lower end of said handle portion, a rotatable shaft connected with said hand grip and having an upper end and a lower end and extending interiorly through said handle portion, a first bevel gear attached to said upper end of said shaft, a second bevel gear engaging said first bevel gear at all times, a shank having one end attached to said second bevel gear and its other end adapted to receive a socket member, said shank being supported by and rotatable in bearings in said head portion, said shank having rotational force applied through said first and second bevel gears by rotation of said rotatable shaft and by rotation of said handle portion, a gear wheel within said head portion, a locking member pivotably secured within a curved area within said head portion, said locking member being of semicircular outline and having spaced apart cavities and having teeth extending from its upper surface engageable with said gear wheel, a stabilizing pin having an end adapted to slidably contact said locking member, a spring biasing said end of said pin into contact with said locking member, a pivot pin fitting into said locking member in such a manner so that said locking member may rotate only when said pivot pin rotates, and a control lever external of said head portion adapted to disengage said teeth from said gear wheel; and wherein: said head portion and said handle portion are forged into an integral piece; and further comprising: a gear cover fixedly mounted to said head portion enclosing said fiRst bevel gear and said second bevel gear, said cover having an edge portion extending around said cover being flush with said head portion; said locking member has a bottom surface and a side surface with said cavities projecting therethrough, said cavities have adjacent first ends flush with said bottom surface, said cavities taper into said locking member from said first ends each having a deepest penetration into said locking member at ends opposite said first ends; said control lever is mounted to said side surface adjacent said first ends; said stabilizing pin has a rod with a ball end; said head portion has a first hole and a second hole connected longitudinally together with said rod positioned in said first hole and said spring positioned in said second hole, said rod being generally perpendicular to said rotatable shaft, said head portion has a tool hole projecting exteriorly from said second hole and arranged generally parallel to said handle portion, said head portion has a slot adjacent said tool hole with said lever being movable through said slot; and, said handle portion has a cylindrical hole with a first end adjacent said head portion and an opposite second end, said cylindrical hole extending longitudinally through said handle portion and receives said rotatable shaft, said handle portion has a first cavity into which said first end of said cylindrical hole opens said first cavity forming a first shoulder perpendicular to said shaft with said first bevel gear positioned in said first cavity against said first shoulder; said handle portion has a second cavity into which said second end of said cylindrical hole opens, said second cavity is cylindrical and is coaxial with said cylindrical hole forming a second shoulder perpendicular to said shaft, said shaft has a constant diameter from said upper end of said shaft to said lower end of said shaft and additionally comprising a plug integrally attached to said lower end of said shaft having a top end positioned against said second shoulder preventing relative axial movement between said shaft and said handle portion; said plug having a plug socket with said rotatable hand grip having a projection removably mounted in said plug socket, said plug having a bottom end flush with said lower end of said handle portion allowing rotation of said shaft and said plug with said hand grip removed without interference from or contact with an operator''s hand gripping said handle portion at said lower end of said handle portion additionally comprising: a plate fitted in said head portion with said shank and said pivot pin projecting therethrough; and, a snap ring fitting adjacent and exteriorly of said plate securing said plate to said head portion. 